Meet the team

CONSULTANT

Carissa brings more than 17 years of experience in hospitality public relations and marketing to her role as a consultant for KLPR. Carissa attended culinary school in San Francisco and worked with the SF Chronicle in the Food & Wine sections. She joined the SF office of Wagstaff Worldwide in 2006, then relocated to Chicago in 2014 and led the team for nearly nine years as its managing director before joining KLPR in 2023. She has worked successfully with clients spanning the gamut of hospitality throughout her career.

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE - MEDIA 

A longtime hospitality vet turned public relations professional, Shelby developed her love of the industry while slinging cocktails and serving up plates at some of Chicago's hottest bars and restaurants. Armed with a B.A. in Public Relations and Advertising from DePaul University, Shelby paired her insider knowledge with a knack for compelling storytelling and out-of-the-box ideas to quickly establish herself as a PR force in the Chicago hospitality industry. Throughout her years, she’s driven the narrative and integrated communications strategy for lauded spirit brands, James Beard Award-winning cocktail book authors, chef-driven fine dining concepts, World’s 50 Best Bars-awardees, and beyond.

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE - MEDIA

Christian entered the world of PR after graduating from the University of Michigan with a BFA in Theater Performance. Working across a myriad of industries in Detroit and Chicago, her passion for hospitality has been the main throughline of her career. As an avid foodie, Christian is thrilled to bring her unique skillset to KLPR to help her clients best tell their story.

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE - SOCIAL MEDIA + INFLUENCER

Originally from Dallas, TX, Lauren is a versatile PR and social media expert with a knack for creating compelling narratives that elevate brands. A graduate of The University of Oklahoma with a double degree in Public Relations and Psychology, Lauren combines strategic insight with a deep understanding of human connection. After honing her skills in New York for 2.5 years, she relocated to Chicago in the spring of 2024, where she quickly fell in love with the city’s thriving food scene and became fully immersed in the hospitality community.

With expertise in building dynamic social media strategies, graphic design, and crafting influencer campaigns, Lauren is passionate about helping brands authentically engage with their audiences. She thrives on discovering restaurants and brands that feel like a home away from home and is excited to help clients convey that unique, personal experience to their customers through engaging storytelling and creative strategies.

ACCOUNT COORDINATOR - MEDIA

Sydney is originally from Dallas, Texas and graduated from the University of Georgia with a major in Public Relations. After graduation she made the move to Chicago and continued to grow her obsession with all things food and hospitality. Her experience ranges from large public relations agencies to in house marketing in areas such as retail, CPG, crisis, as well as hospitality-specific communication. Sydney’s love for the city of Chicago and role as a self-proclaimed foodie have lead her to KLPR, and she is excited to work with KLPR’s amazing client roster.

We are looking for a talented and dynamic Influencer Relations + Social Media pro to join our Chicago team! 3-5 years of hospitality influencer relations + social media experience is a must.

Do you have a knack for relationship building, influencer trends, social media and scouting and experiencing restaurants? Do you have a creative vision and the skills to build the strategy into reality?

If this sounds like you, email Karrie@karrieleungpr.com with a quick intro and resume! Can’t wait to hear from you soon